Packing unit for dishes

ABSTRACT

A device to facilitate the moving of dishes or kitchenware that provides a number of drawers therein to receive dishes. The drawers are lined in a resilient shock-absorbing material to cushion the dishes, cups, bowls and glasses placed therein from contact therebetween. The drawers are secured into the device when filled, so that the filled device can be moved as an ordinary piece of furniture.

United States Patent Inventor Lawrence Hancock. Jr.

2025 Snyder Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo. 80909 Appl. No. 779,366 Filed Nov. 27, 1968 Patented July 6, 1971 PACKING UNIT FOR DISHES 10 Claims, 12 Drawing Fb.

11.8. CI 312/216, 312/330 Int. Cl EOSb 65/46, A47b 88/00 Field of Search 312/216, 330, 107.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,278 7/1923 Greene 312/216 2,826,475 3/1958 Larson 312/330 2,987,358 6/1961 Roberts.... 312/216 3,120,413 2/1964 Scotti 312/330 3,399,939 9/1968 Anderson 312/216 Primary Examiner- Patrick D. Lawson A11omeysClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A device to facilitate the moving of dishes or kitchenware that provides a number of drawers therein to receive dishes. The drawers are lined in a resilient shock-absorbing material to cushion the dishes, cups, bowls and glasses placed therein from contact therebetween. The drawers are secured into the device when filled, so that the tilled device can be moved as an ordinary piece of furniture.

PATENIEU JUL 6 I97! SHEET 2 [IF 3 Fig. 4

Lawrence Hancock, Jr.

IN Vii/\"I'UK.

Fig.8

PACKING UNIT FOR DISHES Heretofore, when a move from one dwelling to anotherwas contemplated, one of the major and most time-consuming of all packing was that involved with the packing of the kitchenware. It was necessary to individually handle each piece of dishware or glassware and wrap it and place it in a container. At the other end of the move it was then similarly necessary to handle each piece separately again to remove the wrapping. The individual wrapping was made further time-consuming by the need that the wrapping be big and bulky enough to cushion the pieces from relative contact therebetween upon shock or impact. This packing chore, if assumed by the housewife was most time-consuming, and if assumed by the mover became very expensive due to the sheer amount of time involved therein.

This invention, therefore, relates to a packing unit to facilitate the transporting of kitchenware. The device provides a rigid container to protect a series of smaller containers placed therein. The smaller containers are adapted to receive varying sizes of kitchenware in a resilient shock-absorbing lining. The smaller containers are sized according to the type of kitchenware to be received therein, for example, cups, saucers, bowls, dishes, and glasses. The resilient material fills the interior of the smaller container with openings lefttherein to accommodate cups and glasses. The smaller containers that accommodate dishes and bowls are subdivided by stiff but resilient wires covered with a shock-absorbing material that subdivide the drawer into slots. From this it can be seen that the packing operation requires merely the insertion of the kitchenware into the proper openings in the proper size con tainer. Similarly, the unpacking operation is the reverse thereof which merely involves removal of thedishes and glassware from the smaller containers. Thus is eliminated the timeconsuming individual wrapping and unwrapping of each piece.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple but unique device for transporting kitchenware.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for the packing of dishware and glassware that does not require individual wrapping of each item.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a series of containers within which may be packed kitchenware for insertion into a larger protective unit.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an easily transportable device within which may be packed large quantities of glassware and dishware.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device with all of its drawerlike containers in place and secured.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the device with the drawers removed therefrom.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a drawer for large dishes.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dish drawer of FIG. 4 showing the insertion of the separators.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drawer adapted to hold cups.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a drawer adapted to hold glasses.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l0-l0 ofFlG.9.

. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a drawer adapted to hold silverware and kitchen utensils.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 12-12 ofFIG. ll.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral 20 generally designates the device with the drawer members fixed therein to be transported, with the housing assembly designated by numeral 22 and the drawer units indicated by numeral 24. The housing assembly comprises two vertically extending end walls 26 which are connected and held in parallel spaced relation by the bottom plate 28 and a top plate 30. The four units just described, end walls 26, bottom plate 28 and top plate 30, define the front opening of the housing assembly and are closed in the rear thereof by the rear wall 32. To complete the housing assembly two vertically extending walls 34 parallel to the end walls 26, 26 are attached between the top and bottom plates, 28 and 30 respectively, to form three equal columns therebetween. The aforementioned members comprising the housing assembly may be formed of sheet plywood, sheet metal or any other such rigid sheet material available for such use. The housing assembly as set forth herein is an extremely rigid unit due to the four vertical parallel members connected acrossthe top by the aforementioned top and bottom plates, and further joined together in the rear by the rear wall 32 presenting a structure much like a chest of drawers.

A series of angle irons 36, the length of the sides 26 thereof, are attached to the four vertical members, 26, 26, and 34, 34, to provide the support and slides for the drawer members. The angle irons 36 have one leg thereof attached to the vertical surfaces, as set forth hereinabove, and the perpendicular leg thereto extends into the three columns thereby providing a horizontal surface upon which the drawers may be supported and slide. The drawer units 24 are of the conventional five sided box with the top thereof open. The drawers are constructed of any one of the convenient materials mentioned hereinbefore with relation to the housing assembly, and include a handle device 38 on the front side thereof. The height of the drawer is variable and is determined by the objects of the kitchenware to be carried therein.

The drawers represented in FIG. 4 through 6 are intended to be used for larger plates. The dish drawer in FIGS. 4 through 6 is shown as having a drawer liner that includes longitudinal sides 40, which coincide and are juxtaposed with the drawer sides, and front and back plates, 42 and 44 respectively, which form the general rectangular inner surface of the drawer. To keep the dishes inserted therein from coming in contact with one another slots or partitions are formed by vertically aligned pairs of rods 46. The top rod of the'vertically aligned pair is mounted in a series of holes 48 near the top of the drawer liner, while the lower rod of each pair is inserted through holes 50 near the lower edge of the drawer liner. Wit the holes thus arranged the rods 46, which are of a length to have the ends thereof coplanar with the exterior surface of the sides 40 and are fabricated of a rigid metal and covered for example in a vinyl finish that is mar and shock resistant, are inserted through the openings on either side of the drawer liner and the liner and rods are then inserted into the drawer as shown in FIG. 5. With the liner thus installed, the length of the rods prevents their falling out of their respective openings and insures the integrity of the drawer. To complete the shock-resistant mounting of the plates in the drawer a layer of foam or other resilient material 52 is laid on the bottom of the drawer upon which the plates are supported.

The drawer unit illustrated in FIG. 7 and 8 is intended for use in storing cups. The drawer is filled with a foam or other resilient material liner 53 which has openings 54 cut thereinto of a size to receivea cup. A further s'emicylindrical opening 55 is cut into the side of each of the openings 54 to accommodate the handles of the cups therein so as not to force the cup out of the opening 54. The unit 53 being formed of a foam or other resilient material can readily adapt to variations in size of the cups, and thereby be able to generally accommodate most any size cup. A plywood sheet 56 with opening 57 cut therethrough is fastened to the interior surface of the drawer sides in overlying relation to the resilient foam. The openings The drawer unit disclosed in FIGS. 9 and is similar to that disclosed for the cups in FIGS. 7 and 8, but is designed to accommodate glasses. This drawer unit is substantially filled with foam or other resilient material 60 with holes 62 therein to accommodate the glassware. To provide further protection, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the foam may be capped by a sheet of plywood 64 with holes 66 drilled therethrough to coincide with the holes 62. The holes 66 would then be lined with a material such as the resilient material 60 or felt or other such protective material. The size and spacing of the holes in this drawer unit would be determined by the size of glasses to be used, with a larger number of holes accommodating smaller glasses and similarly a smaller number of large holes to accommodate large tumblers and ice tea glasses. While the plywood cap 64 has been shown herein, and the similar cap 56 in FIGS. 7 and 8, it can be understood that this extra protection is not absolutely necessary and the solid foam-filled drawer unit would work equally as well.

The drawer unit illustrated in FIGS. 1 land 12 is designed to accommodate kitchen utensils, silverware and other such devices. The drawer is shown with two longitudinal dividing members 68 that extend parallel to the sides of the drawer for approximately half its length and are held in place by a cross brace 70 attached thereto and extending parallel to the front and back of the drawer. Three partitions 72 extend parallel to the cross brace 70 and are attached between the sides of the drawer to provide four compartments for silverware. The compartments formed by the longitudinal divider 68 being longer and wider would accommodate cooking utensils or other such large devices. The dividers are brace contained in the drawer herein, would be covered with a resilient covering such as foam or rubber or covered in the familiar felt material to protect the utensils placed therein from scratching one another, and also to prevent them from intermixing.

While the drawers have been set forth for a specific type of kitchenware, it can readily be understood that the various drawers are adaptable to carry any common household device requiring resilient packing. For example the drawer described in FIGS. 4 through 6 as'accommodating large plates can be used to accommodate bowls or with a center divider parallel to the side liners 40 would accommodate a double row of saucers or other small plates. Similarly the drawer disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10 would be readily adaptable to pack bottles, jars or similar frangible containers.

In operation the unit would be kept on a moving van and when the site ofa move is reached, the drawer units 24 would be removed from the housing 22 and brought into the house. At this point the drawers would be filled with whatever unit the drawer was designed to handle, or as set forth above, any device that would conveniently fit into the apertures provided therein. With each drawer filled it would be returned to the chest and mounted on the properly spaced angle tracks 36. With the drawers thus filled, two plates 74 with holes 76 therein would be attached to the vertically extending partition walls 34 by screws inserted in threaded openings 78. The plates 74 are of sufficient width to overlie the vertical sides of the three rows of drawers, thereby preventing the drawers from falling out therefrom regardless of the orientation of the unit 20. From this can be seen the relatively simple but highly effective packing device which can accommodate all of the kitchen and chinaware of a household in a relatively small amount of space. Also, when not being used for the use set forth herein, the drawer lining units can be removed and the unit could thereby be used for transporting any goods, such as street clothing, which would lend themselves to storage in drawer units. As mentioned hereinbefore, the unit can be made of sheet plywood, sheet metal or any other rigid sheet material intended for such use. The units would be low cost enough that a moving company could keep one on each vehicle, or drop one at the site of a move, to facilitate that phase of the move.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur'to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is as follows:

1. A packing unit, comprising: a housing assembly, container units receivable therein, and retaining means to fix said container units against removal from the housing assembly, said container units being five-sided boxes with the tops thereof being open and the interiors thereof provided with resilient shock-absorbing mounting means for kitchenware.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said container units is filled with resilient shock-absorbing material with generally hemispherical openings therein, each opening having an additional opening on the periphery thereof to receive a cup and its handle, respectively.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said container units is filled with a resilient shock-absorbing material with generally cylindrical openings therein to accommodate drinking glasses.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said container units has a rigid rectangular lining whose four sides extend parallel to and are juxtaposed with respective sides of the container unit, a series of holes extending substantially along the top and bottom of a pair of opposed sides of the lining and defining pairs of opposed holes each pair of opposed holes defining an axis thereacross, and a series of rigid members covered with a resilient material extending across the lining between opposed holes so that when the lining is inserted in the container unit with a resilient lining in the bottom thereof, dishes can be supported therebetween.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the container units has partitions fixed to and extending perpendicular to the bottom thereof and a resilient covering on said bottom and said partitions to accommodate kitchen utensils therein.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing assembly includes end walls, a rear wall, a top and a bottom defining a five-sided box structure having an open front through which the container units are introduced, and at least one internal partition in said housing assembly paralleling the end walls and extending from front to rear therein, said retaining means being engageable with the front edge of the partition along the length thereof in a manner so as to project laterally beyond the opposed sides of the partition and overlie the front of received container units.

7. The device of claim I wherein selected ones of said container units are filled with shock-absorbing material having a series of retaining recesses defined therein for the reception of cups, glasses and the like.

8. A packing unit for kitchenware and the like comprising: an enlarged portable boxlike housing assembly and a series of independent container units selectively receivable within the housing assembly and removable therefrom, said housing assembly including means enabling an accommodation of the received container units in a manner whereby accidental removal therefrom will be precluded, said container units being of a boxlike configuration and provided with internal shock-absorbing mounting means for the accommodation of kitchenware and the like.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein selected ones of said container units are filled with shock-absorbing material having a series of retaining recesses defined therein for the reception of cups, glasses and the like.

of dishes and the like therebetween, the rod-containing container unit including a cushioning lining on the bottorn thereof underlying the rods. 

1. A packing unit, comprising: a housing assembly, container units receivable therein, and retaining means to fix said container units against removal from the housing assembly, said container units being five-sided boxes with the tops thereof being open and the interiors thereof provided with resilient shock-absorbing mounting means for kitchenware.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said container units is filled with resilient shock-absorbing material with generally hemispherical openings therein, each opening having an additional opening on the periphery thereof to receive a cup and its handle, respectively.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said container units is filled with a resilient shock-absorbing material with generally cylindrical openings therein to accommodate drinking glasses.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said container units has a rigid rectangular lining whose four sides extend parallel to and are juxtaposed with respective sides of the container unit, a series of holes extending substantially along the top and bottom of a pair of opposed sides of the lining and defining pairs of opposed holes each pair of opposed holes defining an axis thereacross, and a series of rigid members covered with a resilient material extending across the lining between opposed holes so that when the lining is inserted in the container unit with a resilient lining in the bottom thereof, dishes can be supported therebetween.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the container units has partitions fixed to and extending perpendicular to the bottom therEof and a resilient covering on said bottom and said partitions to accommodate kitchen utensils therein.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing assembly includes end walls, a rear wall, a top and a bottom defining a five-sided box structure having an open front through which the container units are introduced, and at least one internal partition in said housing assembly paralleling the end walls and extending from front to rear therein, said retaining means being engageable with the front edge of the partition along the length thereof in a manner so as to project laterally beyond the opposed sides of the partition and overlie the front of received container units.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein selected ones of said container units are filled with shock-absorbing material having a series of retaining recesses defined therein for the reception of cups, glasses and the like.
 8. A packing unit for kitchenware and the like comprising: an enlarged portable boxlike housing assembly and a series of independent container units selectively receivable within the housing assembly and removable therefrom, said housing assembly including means enabling an accommodation of the received container units in a manner whereby accidental removal therefrom will be precluded, said container units being of a boxlike configuration and provided with internal shock-absorbing mounting means for the accommodation of kitchenware and the like.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein selected ones of said container units are filled with shock-absorbing material having a series of retaining recesses defined therein for the reception of cups, glasses and the like.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein at least one of said container units is provided with upper and lower series of rods transversely thereacross defining vertical pairs of rods with the adjacent pairs of rods being adapted for the accommodation of dishes and the like therebetween, the rod-containing container unit including a cushioning lining on the bottom thereof underlying the rods. 